HIV and AIDS
What are HIV and AIDS?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that is found in the body fluids (blood, semen, vaginal fluid, anal secretions, and breast milk) of an infected person. This virus gradually weakens the immune system and can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
How is HIV spread?
HIV is spread when infected body fluids come in contact with another person's bloodstream, eyes, nose, mouth, vagina, urethra, or rectum. It can also be spread from an infected mother to her baby during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.
Are you at risk for HIV?
Certain activities can put people at higher risk of getting HIV. It is important to understand your level of risk and ways to reduce your risk. Using the highest level of protection for every activity is the best way to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
High risk activities include:
- Vaginal or anal sex without a condom
- Sharing sex toys, and
- Sharing needles and syringes to inject drugs
Low risk activities include:
- Vaginal or anal sex with a condom, and
- Giving oral sex without a barrier (such as a condom or a dental dam)
Negligible (very low) risk activities include:
- Getting oral sex
- Giving oral sex with a barrier
- Finger sex
- Using cleaned sex toys
- Using drugs with a shared pipe or straw
No risk activities include:
- Massage
- Kissing (no blood)
- Ejaculation on unbroken skin
- Using unshared sex toys, and injection of a drug with a new needle, syringe, and works
How you can reduce your risk:
- Practice safer sex; always use a condom or barrier device
- Practice no risk or lower risk activities
- Limit your number of sexual partners
- Discuss HIV status and testing with your partner before you engage in sexual activity
- Practice safer drug use; always use clean needles and syringes
- Ensure all tattoos, piercing, acupuncture, and electrolysis are done professionally with sterilized equipment
Where can I get tested?
Testing for HIV is done by a blood test; most health care providers can provide this test for you. KFL&A Public Health also offers HIV testing. Your name will not appear on the information that is sent to the lab. Test results take two weeks and are only given in person.
Symptoms of HIV
When someone is infected with HIV, there may be no obvious symptoms. People who are infected may remain healthy for years. Over time, most will develop illnesses which become more severe as the immune system weakens. Modern treatments can slow or prevent this progression of illness.
Some people with HIV develop general symptoms which can be like many other conditions:
- chronic infections
- feeling tired
- decreased appetite and weight loss
- nausea and diarrhea
- enlarged glands in the neck, underarm, or groin
What treatment is available?
Drugs are now available that can reduce the damage to the immune system, relieve symptoms, prevent infections and prolong life. There is currently no cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS.
Resources
If you or someone you know would like information or support about HIV/AIDS related issues, some helpful resources are listed below:
Sexual Health Clinic 613-549-1232 or 1-800-267-7875, ext. 1275
HIV/AIDS Regional Services (HARS) Kingston 613-545-3698 or 1-800-565-2209
Canadian HIV/AIDS Information Centre 1-877-999-7740 www.aidssida.cpha.ca
References
HIV and HCV Transmission (Health Canada 2005)
Public Health Agency of Canada
Revised: 2011-06-28